Rasmus Højlund, born in 2003, is a Danish striker who broke into Copenhagen's youth set-up to join Manchester United on a transfer from Sturm Graz and Atalanta, offering Haaland-esque pace and merciless finishing. He's an FA Cup winner, Premier League Player of the Month and Denmark's Euro 2024 star, who has twin brothers on the pitch and fans across the globe.
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 4 February 2003, Rasmus Højlund began his journey towards stardom in his hometown of Horsholm, where he began his football journey with the youth clubs of Horsholm-Usserod and Brøndby.
CAPTION: From Copenhagen’s streets to the global spotlight—Rasmus Højlund’s journey is just beginning! SOURCE: Instagram His twin brothers, Emil (Schalke 04) and Oscar (Eintracht Frankfurt), who are both professional footballers, have made the Højlund surname a household name in Danish football.
Højlund's breakthrough at age 17 in FC Copenhagen's side in October 2020 was the first step in his meteoric progression. Within two years, he scored five times in 32 matches as his side won the 2021/22 Danish Superliga league title.
The electrifying displays put him under everyone's microscope, and his contract was sought after by Sturm Graz from Austria in January 2022 for €1.8 million. He scored 12 goals in 21 games in just six months and led Sturm Graz to the Austrian Bundesliga's second spot.
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Atalanta broke the bank in August 2022 to sign Højlund for €17 million, taking a punt on his untapped potential. Højlund seized his chance following an injury to experienced lead man Duván Zapata, scoring nine times in 32 Serie A appearances.
CAPTION: Bergamo witnessed the birth of a star! Rasmus Højlund’s time at Atalanta was just the beginning. SOURCE: Instagram His searing pace and clinical finishing endeared him to fans in Bergamo, but his stay did not last long.
Manchester United paid £64m in August 2023 to bring Højlund to Old Trafford as part of Erik ten Hag's rebuild. The gamble paid off big-time: he was part of the 2024 FA Cup-winning team, securing the winning penalty in the semi-final shootout, and Premier League Player of the Month in February 2024 after scoring in six consecutive matches.
Regardless of being on the receiving end of a 16-match league drought in the 2024–25 campaign, he stilled his doubters with a March 2025 goal versus Leicester City.
Højlund's initial senior international outing for Denmark in September 2022 was just the beginning. He broke through in March 2023 when he scored a hat-trick in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match against Finland, establishing himself as Denmark's top scorer for the tournament.
CAPTION: From a promising debut to carrying Denmark’s hopes at Euro 2024! The rise of Rasmus Højlund. SOURCE: Instagram He subsequently became a sensation at Euro 2024, cementing his status as one of the key players for the team.
Standing 1.91 m (6 feet 3 in) tall, Højlund's combination of physicality, explosive speed, and clinical finishing has drawn comparisons with Erling Haaland. His uncomplicated playing style—hitting past markers and putting chances away at will—has made him a marker's worst nightmare.
His father, Anders Hojlund, a retired footballer, was a football enthusiast who instilled the passion in him. With 2.4 million Instagram followers (@rasmus.hoejlund), he updates about his life and career, walking the fine line between humility and ambition.
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